It’s been a while since we’ve updated the Recruit-A-Friend program, but the time has come once again to close the doors for a bit and do a little remodeling. On Tuesday, October 15, we’ll be temporarily shutting down new Recruit-a-Friend sign-ups. Don’t worry though—the program will be back (and better than ever) before you know it.

While we don’t have an official date to share regarding the release of the updated Recruit-A-Friend (RAF) program, those whose accounts are already linked are not affected by this, and any unclaimed rewards will be redeemable once the program starts up again. You’ll also be happy to learn that the current reward will still be available when the Recruit-A-Friend program returns—in fact, players who participate in the upcoming program will have even more reward options available to them. We’ll have more details for you at a future point in time.

Crowd Control ListSo I just read the current CC List and noticed that the Demonology Warlock's Carrion Swarm is not on the knockbacks list. I don't know if this was left out intentionally.
Carrion Swarm does not DR, so it wasn't included on the list. There's actually a handful of CC effects like that.

Also, why is the Succubus/Shivarra Mesmerize a fear, and not a mesmerize cc?
This is for balance purposes. That said, we are looking at Seduction/Mesmerize for some potential changes in the future.

If at all possible, could you add a list of all CCs that don't DR?
I'd love to, but pulling that data is a lot trickier. To get technical for a second, the stickied list was pulled from the section of our database that stores info about diminishing returns. Effects that don't DR don't have an entry there, so the name never comes up.

That does mean, however, that if something isn't listed anywhere in that thread, it's either not affected by diminishing returns, or simply doesn't work on players at all. (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

CC and Diminishing Returns
As our senior PvP designer Brian Holinka tweeted over the weekend, we've got some pretty solid goals for the future regarding crowd control. We do think it needs to be toned back a bit, both in the amount of CC effects available and in how frequently they can be used.

That said, CC is still an integral part of World of Warcraft PvP. Dealing with it intelligently, both in choosing when to use your own CC as well as reacting to opponent CC's, does have strong gameplay value.

Honestly going to guess they're getting the exact opposite of what they planned from it.
Our only "plans" were to try to make an admittedly confusing system less so. Confusion about which CC effects share DR's doesn't help anyone.

Regardless, you may want to take another look at that list. Not all of that information is correct.
What do you feel is incorrect? The info in that thread is taken directly from our database. (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

Dampening Effect
As a heads up to those that have raised concerns for the Dampening effect in regards to the affect it will have on Necrotic Strike and double Rogue; we're going to be taking another look at the way in which Necrotic Strike's healing absorb is affected by Dampening. We get that the absorb is the bulk of the ability's "damage", but there is still some concern that it would be too strong. We're also currently discussing the concerns that have been raised for double Rogue.

What about reflective shield? The glyph is supposed to reflect 70% of the damage absorbed. Since dampening should affect healing/absorb only, would it reflect the correct amount of damage?
The damage that's reflected won't change, it will still reflect 70% of the damage that's absorbed. The only difference is that the shield will reflect less overall damage due to the amount that can be absorbed being decreased. (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

Darker Nights
Darker nights aren’t simply pure aesthetics, they have a huge potential to affect real gameplay, it affects players’ reaction time, mood/emotions, and accessibility… and probably a few other things that we don’t even consciously take notice.
We know how everyone here feels about this, and while in theory “darker nights” sounds like a great idea, it all comes down to design.

Here’s a fresh quote from Mr. Crab himself:
“The artists are aware of this feedback and want to try and address it in the future. Too dark is hard to play of course.” (source) (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

Next Connected Realms- Updated 10/14

Originally Posted by Blizzard
(Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

As a part of the ongoing realm connection process, we are currently planning to connect Black Dragonflight and Skullcrusher during the maintenance on Tuesday, October 15. We will provide an update should there be any delays or issues in implementing this connection.

Blue Tweets

Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment

ClassesWhat is the intended difference between Major Glyphs and Talents? It feels like one toon customization interface with 2 UIs.
It's often the degree. Many of the major glyphs are interesting but would feel too lame claiming a precious talent spot. (Source)

f.ex I love in SWTOR that you MUST weave ST heals in even during AoE bc of CD; "spam AE" literally cannot be a solution.
We agree at a high level. Forcing that without being big jerks is trickier. For example CDs on all AE spells works, but ugh. (Source)

GC why don't you provide more insight into your method of balancing healers?
I don't really like to do this as a rule. The insight is interesting to some. I get that. (Source)
But my experience is some players just use any info for how we balance to lobby for buffs. (Source)
So we try to share philosophy more than specific heuristics or targets. (Source)

We still have input lag! This has not fixed it!
Fixing the input lag is extremely important and is a high priority right now. (Source)

I think players need smart heals because you designed encounters that way. Maybe if there was more single target damage...
Encounters are designed around class capabilities, not the reverse. (Source)

I've been playing since BC, but have yet to see hunters at the top of any sim dps...any chance of that ever happening?
Sims are generally bad at comparing class DPS since different authors of varying skills work on different components. (Source)
They are better when a good author can predict gear choices or rotations for your particular class. (Source)

Hunter (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator)So you can show a shield model for warriors during shield wall and spell reflect but you can't show quivers for hunters again?
It's not that simple. Our animation system isn't built that way. (Source)Small idea for Hunters: while under Deterrence, we wield a random 2h melee weapon (or dual wield a 1-h weapon) from our bags.
Minor glyph idea maybe? (Source)

Paladin (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator) Just look at WoL for 25 man and then say Paladins are fine.
Are we caught in a time loop here? My original reply was "meters are a terrible way to assess healer potency." (Source)

Priest (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator)Disc have too many advantages, again, yes. And Chakra.. dont want to get started on that one.
Actually, I'd like to. What would you ultimately want to see in Chakra? (Source)

CoH is even weaker than PoH in hps/hpm? The only benefit is its smart/rarely overhealing. So definitly agree here to.
If PoH is a better heal than CoH than how can you account for Holy using CoH nearly on cooldown? (Source)Not hard. CoH is a smart heal and has no cast time. Not rocket science?
Then PoH isn't in fact a better use of a click than CoH, which was the conjecture. (Source)

5% nerf to my Mastery. Why? Do HPriests -really- need a nerf? And we still have input lag! This has not fixed it!
It's too early to declare (especially from the outside) that any specific change did or did not do anything. (Source)
But if we decide the Echo change stays, we can consider buffing in other ways since we agree there isn't a balance need for it. (Source)

Do you think Discipline might be easier to get a handle on balance-wise if Spirit Shell was axed and auto-Aegis POH returned?
I think it's the flexibility of Atonement plus the penchant for sniping heals. I think they look better on meters than they are. (Source)

Warrior (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator)thougts on raging blow doing more damage then execute atm? 4p is not viable as a fury warrior, and execute is just not used.
You spam Raging Blow? Or you just don't want to use any rage on Execute? (Source)
Looking at some parses, I see Execute as 6-7% of damage for heroic Fury warriors. Seems like they are using it? (Source)

Everyone's crying about RAF mounts and whatnot. Have you ever consider that not everyone have a chance to even get RAF mount because, surprise surprise, the service is not available in every country at all? So be damn glad you could even get it and stop this QQ nonsense. It's a cool looking mount I grant you, but after all it was not connected to any special feat except that you got someone else hooked up to the game/bought another account. Why they made them time exclusive to begin with I never understood to be really honest.

It could have been a puke-orange mechanostrider that caused visible FPS lag for the person whenever they mounted it, and it wouldn't matter. It was something THEY had that others DON'T have, so they want to grab on to it to try and feel special. Sad, really, but that's the way it is.

I laud blizzard for bringing them all back. More mounts are always better.

so many people spout this shit until it is something that affects them. I personally have had the zhevra since '08 as well and it does serve as a pretty cool blast from the past when I see other people with it. We paid money and got it back at that time. Why SHOULD it come back in the exact same form. We aren't talking about like a recolor or anything, but the same mount that we have had for six years just coming back out of the blue to make blizz some extra money. I have plenty of exclusive shit, and I can live without it. But I know some people who do love it as their favorite mount. No matter what anyone says, seeing it all over the place again will take away from that for quite a few. Really cool mounts have been ruined by availability in the past to more than just a few players. was this really a neccessary cash grab

You paid a lot of money for a mount and you feel only you are entitled for it because you did it back in 2008? Wow...

If it was the Amani bear or Naxx proto-drakes I'd say you had a point, but you did nothing special for this mount mate, just paid way too much real money. People who will get it now will have done exactly what you did back then, why shouldn't they be able to get the same reward? I have the Obsidian RaF mount and I just think it's a fun bonus for getting my mate into the game.

It could have been a puke-orange mechanostrider that caused visible FPS lag for the person whenever they mounted it, and it wouldn't matter. It was something THEY had that others DON'T have, so they want to grab on to it to try and feel special. Sad, really, but that's the way it is.

I laud blizzard for bringing them all back. More mounts are always better.

I too hate how people try to turn every new or cool mount into something exclusive. So.. really, the only mounts consistently available throughout the years (excluding the old epic mounts) should be the racial mounts - and everything else should be removed so a small group of people can feel special?

More mounts is a good thing. Less mounts is just forced prestige. It's not our fault that you feel special because you have a mount that you didn't do anything special. You deluded yourself into thinking some outdated/retired mount made you cool. It didn't.

"The new RAF gives you the uniqe opertunity to pay us boatloads of money and get the uniqe Black Quiraj Battle Tank and Scarab Lord title! Just pay us enough and you can look like an old-school hardcore player!"

"The new RAF gives you the uniqe opertunity to pay us boatloads of money and get the uniqe Black Quiraj Battle Tank and Scarab Lord title! Just pay us enough and you can look like an old-school hardcore player!"

I have the Zhevra and I don't mind that others will get it; that I find it hilariously unsuited as a mount doesn't impact that at all. I simply feel like all mounts should be accessible, with some effort of any kind. they should also never be removed so you can go back to get them. Mount popularity is a diverse thing anyway. People will gain favourites they most often use, and those favourites are different than the next person. The achievements are there for a reason, dated and all. If so, I think they should just add to the tooltip of mounts when you actually got it, so that people that care about such are satisfied.

For people who recruited and haven't claimed their award this current system. So the system gets taken down. You haven't claimed the current systems reward, therefore when the system opens back up again, the people who didn't get to claim their nightwing will be able to as it is only available to THEM. It is not an option for the rest of the playerbase. Just those who haven't claimed their nightwing yet.

They said they're adding a vendor and hinted at the Nightwing + the other older mounts being available on this new in-game RAF mount/pet vendor. So yes, it will be available to everyone. Not just people with the current RAF rewards unclaimed.

I can somewhat appreciate the complaints about potentially not being a unique snowflake anymore. I have a ZG tiger which is not available anymore, and mage Tier 3 which is only available now from the BMAH. Whenever I see someone with either, I always /cheer at them for being part of the special club! It's silly, and irrational, but I'd probably feel sad if they made it so everyone could get them much easier.

Why is it that people feel they need to complain so much about this damn game. And stuff alot of the times that isnt really important. Like RAF mounts. Is it really that big of a deal to bring these back so people can obtain them again. It is just a mount people. It is a little bit more of an incentive for people to refer other people.

Originally Posted by Zemiki

To all those complaining about the Zhevra coming back. It's not. They're just showing the Referr-a-friend rewards up until the most recent. Calm down.

It's coming back. they said it in their Round Table interview a few days ago. You will have the option to choose what mount you want out of the 4.

Originally Posted by Pizzakid2093

so many people spout this shit until it is something that affects them. I personally have had the zhevra since '08 as well and it does serve as a pretty cool blast from the past when I see other people with it. We paid money and got it back at that time. Why SHOULD it come back in the exact same form. We aren't talking about like a recolor or anything, but the same mount that we have had for six years just coming back out of the blue to make blizz some extra money. I have plenty of exclusive shit, and I can live without it. But I know some people who do love it as their favorite mount. No matter what anyone says, seeing it all over the place again will take away from that for quite a few. Really cool mounts have been ruined by availability in the past to more than just a few players. was this really a neccessary cash grab

While you have some valid points I do not see the big deal in bringing them back. Why shouldnt Blizz make money on the stuff they worked on? It is still a business.

That darker nights reply sounded like they have no intentions of making the nights any darker .___. So many excuses.

Yep. And after that big tease they did about 5.4 making it dark again and they didn't change it at all. The excuses are getting ridiculous, just make it on a slider for those pussies afraid of the dark.

I think it's the flexibility of Atonement plus the penchant for sniping heals. I think they look better on meters than they are.
Maybe it's because everything in pve is on a timer and we have a spec designed on preemptive healing.
That's just wrong... again, not rocket science.

It could have been a puke-orange mechanostrider that caused visible FPS lag for the person whenever they mounted it, and it wouldn't matter. It was something THEY had that others DON'T have, so they want to grab on to it to try and feel special. Sad, really, but that's the way it is.

I laud blizzard for bringing them all back. More mounts are always better.

You really wanna go there? I see all that bitching in pve about someone getting easier gear or casuals wanting to see content and you complain about people who just want to retain some vanity item exclusive as reward for being an old customer? The only point to open it up is making more $$ from new customers.